Mail-bag fastener.



No} 735,914; 4 PATENTEID AUG. 11, 1903a J. w. SHALLENBBRGER.

' MAIL BAG FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented August 11, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. sHALLFNB'ERcER, OF OANAL' FULTON, oHIo, As s 1oNoR OF ONE- HALFTQ CLARENCE M. SHAFER, OF OANAL FULTON, OHIO.

MAIL-BAG FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Batent No."735,914, dated August11, 1903.

Application filed-May 7, 1903. Serial No. 156,008- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, JOHN W. SHALLEN- BERGER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Canal Fulton, in' the county of Stark and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-BagFasteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the annexeddrawings, making apart of this specification, and to the figures ofreference marked thereon, in which- Figure 1 is a view showing the sackclosed and locked. Fig. 2 is aview showing a portion of the sack andillustrating the same open. Fig. 3 is a detached View of the hasp,showing the label partially withdrawn. Fig. 4 is a View showing portionsof the lock-bars in proper relative position and illustrating the samein relation to thesack, showing the lock-bars turned to unlock the sack.Fig. 5 is a View showing one of the lock posts or studs and also thelock-plates and lock-bars brought into position to lock the sack. Fig. 6is a detached view showing a portion of one of the lock-bars, showingthe links thereof turned at an angle to each other.

The present inventionhas relation to 'mail-' of suitable material forthe purpose de-,

signed. The back of the sack proper is extended a short distance abovethe mouth of the sack, so as to reduce the overlapping, which is formedof sufficient size to properly close the mouth of the sack 1 when saidflap is brought into position illustrated in Fig. 1.

To the free end of the flap 2 are attached any desired number of metalplates 3, which metal plates are provided with the eyes 4:, which eyesare located beyond the edge of the flap 2 and are for the purpose ofproviding bearings for the different links 5, which links are pivotedtogether, so as to constitute a locking bar or bars of a length tocorrespond with the width of the sack designed to. be constituted, saidlinks being'connected together by means of suitable rivets 6.

To the front or forward side of the sack 1 are connected locking-posts7, which lockingposts are provided with the heads 8, said heads beingformed of such a size and shape that they will pass through the openings9, formed in the plates 3. The locking-posts may be'attached to a strip10, which strip is secured to the sack in any convenient and well-knownmanner. In the drawings the strip is shown upon the inside; but it willbe understood that it may be located on the outside, if desired, as itsonly object is to pro- .vide reinforcement for locking-posts 7.

The links 5 of the lock-bars are provided with the curved portions 11,which curved 7o portions are to be located so that they will comedirectly opposite the locking-posts when said locking-posts are passedthrough the apertures 9, and when the links are rocked by means of theoperating-levers or cranks 12, so as to bring the convexed edges of thecurved portions 11 against the locking-posts 7, said portions will fitor be seated in the narrowed or reduced portions 13 of the posts 7 Itwill be understood that when the links 5 of the locking-bars'are turnedso that their curved portions will press against the locking-posts saidlocking-posts will'be crowded against the seats of the apertures 9, andthereby securely lock the flap 2 in the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

' The levers 12 are so formed that when they are turned toward thebottom of the sack, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the curved portions of thelock-bar links will be in the position illuso trated inFig. 5, whichposition is the one that locks the flap 2, and for the purpose ofholding the links of the lock-bars in theposition the hasp 14is solocated that when the slotted end 15 of the hasp 14 is passed overconnected in the usual manner.

bar 21, which rivet or bar is connected to the flanges 22, substantiallyas illustrated in Fig. 3.

It will be understood that forming the lockbars of suitable links andpivoting the links together that when the sack is closed it will not berigid, but is free to be turned or brought into any desired position, sothat the sack can be suspended conveniently.

In the drawings I have illustrated two link lock-bars and two levers;but I do not desire to be confined to this construction, as it willreadily be seen that by providing a single lever which connects the twolink lock-bars shown the same object can be accomplished.

In providing two levers 12 it Will be understood that one should beformed somewhat shorter than the other, so that they can lap one withinthe other, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a mail-bag fastener, a bag providedwith a flap, the free edge thereof provided with plates having openings,a lock-bar composed of links and provided with an operating-lever andsaid links provided with curved portions, locking-posts secured to thebody of the bag, said posts provided with heads, and a hasp adapted tohold a label, and a lock-staple secured to the body of the bag,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a mail-bag fastener the combination of a mail-bag provided with aflap, plates provided with openings secured to the free edge of theflap, posts fixed to the bag and said posts provided with heads,locking-bars 0011- sisting of links pivoted together and provided withoperating-levers, said links provided with curved portions, said curvedportions adapted to press against the locking-post, and a hasp normallylocated over the levers of the locking-bars, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

3. In a mail-bag fastener, a mail-bag provided with a flap, said flapprovided with plates, locking-posts secured to the mail-bag,locking-bars composed of links, and the links provided with curvedportions, a lever secured to each of the locking-bars, and a haspnormally located over the levers, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN W. SHALLENBERGER.

Witnesses:

FRANK J. MCGEE, A. H. MOOADDEN.

